Players aware of what we have to do, says Bruce

The Tigers are within touching distance of sealing a Premier League return after moving six points clear of nearest challengers Watford over the weekend.

Victory tonight at second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers would, depending on how 
Gianfranco Zola’s Hornets fare at Millwall, leave Hull able to clinch promotion at home to Bristol City on Friday night.

Such a tantalising prospect has understandably led to huge excitement in the East Riding, much of it fuelled by the fact Hull’s next three opponents are all sitting in the relegation zone with just four games remaining.

Bruce, however, has been in the game too long to believe the job is almost done and has instead urged his players to remain fully focused.

“We are in a wonderful position, but that is all it is,” said the Tigers manager, whose side travel to third-bottom Barnsley a week on Saturday before rounding off their campaign at home to leaders Cardiff City on May 4.

“There is plenty still to do and we have to remain switched on. Some may look at our next three fixtures and think, ‘They are all against teams in the bottom three, which is ideal for a team chasing promotion’.

“But anyone who does think like that clearly have not taken much notice of the Championship this season.

“Just look at (fourth-bottom) Peterborough this season. They have taken four points off us, beaten Cardiff twice and then just last Saturday they beat Watford. That’s not a bad record for anyone, never mind a team fighting relegation.

“There are plenty of teams down there who have claimed other notable results, which is why it doesn’t seem to make much difference if you play the bottom three or the top three in this division.”

Bruce’s use of Peterborough as an example of why the job is still far from done is apt. Not only did Darren Ferguson’s Posh pull off a major shock in beating Watford last Saturday, but their win at the KC Stadium on September 29 came on the back of a seven-game losing start to the campaign.

Considering Hull had been fourth going into the game with then pointless Peterborough, the defeat came as a huge shock.

However, it has proved to be a rare off day for Hull when taking on teams at the wrong end of the Championship this term. In fact, of their 21 meetings with teams currently sitting in the bottom half of the table, the Tigers have won a phenomenal 16.

As a result of that dominance, League doubles have been claimed against Huddersfield Town, Millwall, Ipswich, Birmingham and Derby. If Bruce’s men can, over the next week-and-a-half, add Wolves, Bristol City and Barnsley to that list then Premier League football will return to the KC Stadium next season no matter how third-placed Watford fare during their own run-in.

Bruce said: “All I can say is that we have got ourselves into a wonderful position. People may be talking about when we can go up and so on, but all we can do is go to Wolves and get another good result.

“Doing our own jobs is what matters, nothing else. We do that, then we can’t ask any more. The pleasing thing at this stage of the season is our position, of course it is.

“Plus, we have a grounded bunch here at the club. They won’t get carried away. The players understand what the Championship is all about.

“And if anyone needed reminding about just what a ridiculous league this can be, just take a look at Saturday’s results.

“That is just how the Championship is. You can’t take anything for granted so we focus on ourselves and that’s all.”

Wolves are deep in trouble, with Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town having dumped Dean Saunders’s men back into the bottom three.

In the aftermath of that loss, the former Doncaster manager set his current charges the target of winning three of their final four games.

However, judging by the mood of the irate locals at the final whistle, few genuinely believe that Wolves have the stomach for the fight.

Even so, the Molineux crowd is expected to be fired up ahead of kick-off tonight and Bruce knows how important it will be to try to frustrate the locals.

That, of course, is not a feeling Hull supporters have experienced much since Bruce’s arrival in June. When appointed, the 53-year-old spoke of a three-year plan designed to take Hull back to the top flight and he admits the rate of progress has surprised him.

The Tigers chief added: “Of course, it is satisfying that things have come together so well in our first year. All the credit has to go to my staff and the players.

“This has been our first year together and everyone has bought into what we wanted to do. The lads who have come in and also the lads we inherited.

“This is a good bunch and if there is any praise to be had then the players deserve it.

“They have got the club in a great position, but now we have to push on and capitalise. We have had a terrific start, but now we have to end strongly.”

Corry Evans will be missing tonight as the midfielder starts a two-game suspension after being booked for the 10th time in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Ipswich.

Last six games: Wolverhampton Wanderers LWLLDL, Hull City WLWLWW.

Last time: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Hull City 1; August 29, 2009; Premier League.

Referee: A Woolmer (Northamptonshire).